If you've ever stayed up late researching your diagnosis, written out a list of questions before an oncology appointment, or searched for plain-language information about a treatment option your doctor mentioned, that is not anxiety spiraling - that is real, meaningful engagement in your own care.

For the first time, now there is a way to measure it.

Manta Cares is introducing Decision Point Engagement (DPE©), a new framework we developed to capture whether patients engage with the right information at the right moment in their cancer experience. With this new framework, we analyzed data from 3,388 breast and lung cancer patients across all 50 states. What we found confirms what many patients already know from experience: you are far more active in managing your cancer care than the healthcare system has ever given you credit for. And, most of that activity is happening outside the doctor's office: often late at night, often alone, often without a dedicated cancer support resource to turn to.

What Is Decision Point Engagement (DPE©)?

DPE© is a new framework created by Manta Cares. It is the only framework built to measure cancer patient engagement specifically at clinical decision points, which are the critical moments when important diagnosis, treatment and quality of life choices are being made.

Here is what makes DPE different from how patient engagement has been measured before:

Traditional programs count marketing metrics like ad impressions, website visits, and app downloads. Those numbers tell you whether someone saw a piece of content or took a small action based upon a prompt they encountered. They say nothing about what the person was actually seeking, or whether that patient was seeking guidance during a critical moment in their cancer care.

DPE© requires two things at once: the right timing and the right clinical context. A patient reading general health tips generates no DPE© signal. A patient using HopeAI, Manta's AI for people navigating cancer treatment, or Manta Care’s comprehensive cancer maps to understand their treatment options in the weeks after a diagnosis does. A patient preparing questions before a surgical consultation also does. That specificity is what makes it a meaningful measure to understand the cancer treatment experience

To understand DPE, you also need to understand Manta Cares’ Cancer Maps, the foundation it's built on.

Cancer Maps are interactive, step-by-step guides built for specific cancer types. Manta Cares developed them alongside experienced oncologists and medical professionals. Each map combines clinical guidelines, expert medical wisdom, and the real-world patient experience of those who have walked this path before, covering more than 300 clinical decision points: choosing a treatment plan, preparing for surgery, understanding biomarker results, managing side effects. That structure is what makes DPE© measurable. Because our Cancer Maps define exactly where the decision points are, we can tell whether a patient engaged with the right information at the right moment. Without the map, there is no moment to measure against.

DPE© covers key clinical milestones across the cancer experience, including biomarker and genetic testing, surgery decisions, treatment planning, hormone therapy selection, and metastatic treatment options.

What the DPE© Data Shows

Looking at 3,388 breast and lung cancer patients who joined the Manta Cares platform over three months, from all 50 states: 70% engaged at a specific, clinically relevant decision point in their care.

The moments patients engaged with most:

Developing a treatment plan: 43%
Biomarker and genetic testing: 40%
Metastatic treatment options: 39%
Pre- and post-surgery planning: 38%
Hormone therapy: 33%
Symptoms and side effect management: 33%

And this: 21% of patients used HopeAI specifically to prepare for their next oncology appointment. They were not passively browsing. They were getting ready for a real conversation with their care team.

78% of all activity on the Manta Cares platform happens outside of standard business hours, between 6pm and 8am.

The questions don't wait until Monday morning. Neither does HopeAI.

All findings from this analysis are based on aggregate, de-identified data, meaning nothing in this analysis can be traced back to any individual patient.

What This Means for You

The DPE© data is not just a statistic. It is a reflection of something most patients already feel but rarely hear acknowledged: the real work of understanding & managing cancer care happens between appointments.

You leave the clinic with new information and spend the next hours - or days - trying to actually process it. What does this test result mean? What should I ask before we make a final call on surgery? Is there a treatment option I haven't heard about yet? Should I eat differently during chemotherapy? How do I pay for the treatment I’m going to need?

That processing, that preparation, that searching is just not a burden you are placing on yourself. It is how informed patients show up for their care. And you deserve a cancer support resource built for exactly those moments.

HopeAI is an AI tool built specifically for cancer patients and their caregivers. It can help you understand a diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and care decisions in plain language, at any hour of the day. It is not a replacement for your care team. Think of it as a preparation resource and a way to walk into every appointment with better questions and a clearer understanding of your options in one of the most complex and intimidating healthcare experiences anyone can face.

Read more about how HopeAI was built and what it can do for you.

A Free Cancer Support App Built for These Moments

The Manta Cares app and web platform is free for all patients and care partners. No subscription, no cost.

In the platform, you'll find:

HopeAI: an AI-powered support chat for questions about your diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and care decisions - available anytime
Cancer Maps: visual, step-by-step guides built for specific cancer types, developed with more than 100 medical professionals and oncology clinicians
Symptom and side-effect tracking: tools to stay organized so nothing falls through the cracks
Appointment preparation: resources to help you walk in with the right questions
Support resources and community organizations: we know the difficulties of cancer treatment don’t stop at the clinic, so we’ve collected a library of support tools, online resources, and community partners to help you with everything from financial support to finding a local support group

Download the free Manta Cares app and start exploring today.

Built by patients, for patients. Join the Manta Cares community today.